Arctic Flower

Chapter 1

>You step out of the smoldering crater, coughing and sputtering. Thankfully, you're not seriously hurt, just a little banged up…
>...but your ship is another story. You look back at the little old thing sadly. Probably totaled, you'll have to scrap the old gal.
>You sigh and take out your PDA, seeing if you can figure out what backwater planet you crashed on. The handy little device comes alive, showing a little digital avatar of a purple jackal woman. She smiles and waves at you from the screen, speaking in an alien tongue. Thankfully, the PDA shows you English subtitles.
>”Good afternoon, Beckett! How are you doing today?”
>”Not so hot, Aubergine. We crashed.”
>The AI gasps, putting a hand over her mouth.
>”Oh no! Let me run a quick diagnostic on the ship…”
>”That won't be necessary. She's totaled, sweetheart.”
>”Oh. I'm sorry, Beckett. Would you like for me to call for help?”
>”Not right now; all I want is to know where we are.”
>There's a pause as a little jingle plays. The Nocterran onscreen puts a hand to her chin, thinking hard. After a moment, she shrugs sheepishly.
>”I’m sorry, sir, but I'm having trouble connecting to Mother. I can't triangulate our location without a connection.”
>”Shit. Don't worry about it, I'm sure I can find some locals.”
>You shut the PDA off and stow it away in the pocket of your spacesuit. With a frustrated sigh, you take a look around yourself.
[https://youtu.be/t4ICAy8cx_U]
>The planet’s surface is covered in pale lilac-tinted snow, several inches- if not a foot or two- thick. It makes walking around difficult, but not impossible.
>The air is crisp and cold, but not unbearably so; you imagine it would probably be freezing at night, though. Luckily you can still see sunlight, albeit through a layer of thick clouds.
>Strange, spiraling plants sprout up everywhere, as massive as the trees that grow back home on Earth. The plant matter has a distinct purplish hue, rather than the green you're more familiar with. Each spiral stalk bears several massive, thick leaves. They jut out rigidly, looking almost like solid platforms rather than natural parts of the plant.
>Surprisingly large, oblong blue fruits sprout along the stalks and leaves at apparent random. You'd wager a single ripe one is about the size (and shape) of a football.
>Good to know there's at least a good supply of food. ...assuming you can eat this shit.
>Strange, massive birds fly HIGH above you, almost looking more like planes, considering their size and altitude. You'd hate to see one of them up close.
>All manner of unidentifiable footprints litter the snow: some tiny, some large. What particularly catches your eye, however, are some particularly huge ones that seem to tread on top of the snow, almost like tracks made by snowshoes, but clearly made by someone- or something- that's traveling barefoot.
>Unfortunately, you don't have the same catlike tread as whoever made these tracks, so you're just gonna have to trudge through the snow the hard way. Bracing yourself for the cold trek, you begin following the tracks, hoping they might lead to civilization.
>As you walk, your mind wanders, reflecting on what happened before the crash…
>It wasn't some case of you trying to do anything stupid. Nor was it you trying to explore uncharted space. No, it was just another normal-ass cruise through the stars in your trusty jalopy of a starship.
>You've had the damn thing for a while now, managed to scrape up the funds to get her used shortly after First Contact happened. How long ago WAS that now? God, time seems like such a blur these days, what with real-ass space aliens just casually becoming part of daily life.
>You used to think it was kinda weird, seeing your work buddies shack up with purple jackals, green cats, and other weird species, but you've kinda gotten used to it. You HAVE to, these days.
>After getting your ship, traveling to other galaxies on the weekend became a possibility, and you've never really went back. Nocterran Jump tech has been an absolute godsend, even if you're not the best at using it.
>You curse yourself for a moment, remembering how your own shitty calculations are what catapulted you into the gravity of this ice cube.
>Bah. No sense dwelling on it now. You've got bigger concerns right now.
>Finding shelter… figuring out where you are… surviving the cold…
>...figuring out where that BREATHING sound is coming from.
>You stop walking and crouch down into the snow, carefully scanning your surroundings. Most civilizations these days aren't hostile to strangers, but you can't be too careful with the wildlife.
>Some thick, pale underbrush near you rustles. You hear quiet breathing from within. You can't begin to guess what sort of critter is in there, and you're unarmed.
>Fan-fucking-tastic.
>Preparing for the worst, you slowly begin backing away from the brush, making sure not to avert your gaze. With each step, the rustling intensifies slightly.
>Your heart races as you begin walking faster, unsure of what else you could possibly do to get out of this.
>You take another step back, only to step on what appears to be a hard, brittle mushroom. It cracks loudly under your weight.
>Your heart skips several beats as something MASSIVE leaps out of the brush with a snarl.
>With a cry, you put up your fists and prepare yourself for what you can only assume is a fight to the death.
>As the massive animal jumps into view, you carefully observe it, maintaining your stance.
>It appears to be some sort of giant… snow… leopard-jackal?
>You squint a little.
>The creature definitely resembles a bipedal jackal, but the fur is a lot more voluminous than that of, say, a Nocterran. The coat is a pale lilac color, with slightly darker spots.
>You take note that it has MASSIVE paws that are absolutely covered in fluff, both for hands and feet. This must be what made those tracks… feet that big and fluffy would make walking on top of the snow a breeze.
>Pointed ears twitch and swivel, listening for any sound you or any other beings nearby might make. The jackaleopard bares sharp teeth, glaring at you with pale eyes.
>Somehow, your probable killer has yet to make a move. As it stands there, probably sizing up how well you'll taste, your eyes continue searching...
>...and nearly pop out of your head when you look down to see a noticeable bust, contained by a pale leather belt. Glancing downward reveals a matching loincloth covering her crotch.
>A few thinner belts cinched around the alien’s waist bear various tools, one of which is undeniably some sort of knife. You contemplate grabbing for it, but don't make a move out of fear.
>The woman towers over you, even when you factor in that she's on top of the snow and you're sunken down on the ground beneath it. You can also make out a downright Amazonian build as you study her more closely.
>This chick could snap you in half if she wanted.
>Instead though, she steps forward confidently, leaning in close to you. You hear her sniff loudly a few times before drawing her knife, holding it defensively.
>She snarls a few words you don't recognize in a low voice. You pull out your PDA slowly, making sure she doesn't think it's a weapon. Her gaze follows your hand carefully. You turn the device on and quickly open up the two-way translator, speaking into it slowly.
>"H-Hello… My name is Malcolm Beckett…"
>There's a short pause as the handheld device emits a purple scanning beam. It washes over the amazon slowly, causing her to raise her knife defensively.
>You want to show her you mean no harm, so you slowly raise your hands over your head, just in time for the PDA to repeat what you said in her language.
>The woman tilts her head to the side, taken aback. She hesitates a moment, then growls what she said before.
>Your PDA repeats her statement in English.
>”Friend or foe?”
>”Friend. I mean no harm.”
>She weighs your statement for a moment…
>Then grabs you and effortlessly slings you over one shoulder.
>”You come with.”
>You don't attempt to struggle. She's armed, you're not. Your best chance to survive is probably to let her take you to wherever she's heading. Maybe then you can work out an escape plan.
>Your captor strides across the snow with graceful steps, quickly making her way down a wooded path. She mutters something else as she goes. You don't need the translator this time, though, as it sounds like she's trying to pronounce your name.
>”Be… ket. BEEket. ...BEH-ket.”
>She tries a few more times, then nods, speaking louder and more confidently.
>”Beck.”
>You nod.
>”That works.”
>She continues walking silently for a bit, eventually saying a strange phrase. Your translator is silent, making you wonder if the cold made it short out or something.
>She repeats herself a few times, then it clicks in your head: she's saying her name.
>”Tapeesa.”
>”Ohh, okay. Tapeesa.”
>The alien grunts affirmatively, dropping you onto a snow bank roughly. You land and almost immediately sink into the powdery snow, glancing around to see where she took you.
>Ahead of you is what seems to be…
>...the entrance to a village.
[https://youtu.be/rJ90ljliEzU]
>A village of what you can only describe as massive, pyramid-shaped igloos, spreading out through the “forest” made up of countless spiraling stalks, their broad, thick leaves blocking most of the sunlight from above. What little that does come through paints the village with beautiful dapples of light.
>Outside the igloos, tall lanterns are set up, glowing with either orange fire or strange bluish-green light. There seems to be no rhyme or reason as to which color is in front of which home.
>You can see a few more people of your captor’s species milling about, most wearing more clothing than she is. A few glance your way curiously, but none come to investigate.
>You quickly stand up and follow her; it doesn't take long at all to reach what you assume to be her home.
>Upon stepping into the igloo, you are all but thrown onto a seat that seems to be made of the wood of those twisting stalk plants, with a thin cushion made of the same pale leather as Tapeesa’s belt bra.
>She walks over to a small lantern and taps it roughly with a knuckle, prompting it to fill the dark room with blue-green light. Satisfied, she roughly falls onto what seems to be a massive bed, staring at you intensely.
>”...talk.”
>”Uhh, what do you want to know?”
>She thinks for a moment, looking down at one of her paw hands.
>”...talk Tapeesa what Beck is.”
>”Oh. Well, uh, I'm a human. I come from Earth.”
>She turns her gaze to you, looking a little suspicious.
>”Offmooner? Feh.”
>Offmooner? Must be local slang for alien or something…
>”Yeah, I'm an O-Offmooner.”
>”Talk Tapeesa why Beck come here.”
>”Well, I crashed. I didn't mean to come here, and I'm sorry if I trespassed or anything.”
>”Mm.”
>She stands up, stretching, and walks over to you, roughly grabbing your arms and examining you; she pulls your arms, wrists and fingers around. She pokes at your orange suit with a clawed finger. Finally, she runs a claw along your breathing mask.
>”Hmph. Will get Beck fix.”
>”Oh, I’m alright, you don't have to-”
>She cuts you off with a little snarl.
>”Will. Get. Beck. FIX.”
>”...okay then.”
>Tapeesa unceremoniously heads out of the igloo, leaving you alone. You pull out your PDA and quietly speak to your companion AI.
>"Hey Aubergine, i-is the atmosphere here safe…? Can I take my mask off?"
>After a second or two, a small hologram of your digital friend pops up.
>"Judging by the appearance of your hostess and a quick analysis of the air, I can only conclude that we are on Kemosi, one of Nocten’s moons. That means that the atmosphere here contains sufficient enough oxygen and whatnot that you shouldn't have any lasting negative side effects from breathing the air. You MAY notice that the air feels different, but you should adjust quickly enough.”
>”Kemosi, huh? Never heard of it.”
>”Lunar Nocterrans are considerably less technologically inclined than those who inhabit Nocten itself. Because of that, their existence isn't nearly as well documented as ours. I'm not surprised you didn't know about them.”
>”Are they… safe?”
>”Of course. They may be less modernized, but they're not savages.”
>”Great. Thank you, Auber.”
>You close and stash the PDA, then remove your breathing mask. You take a tentative breath, feeling the cold air rush in. You can smell the clean snow, as well as a strange earthy scent wafting from the lantern.
>Aubergine’s analysis proves correct; you have no trouble breathing the air here. It's cold, but not toxic or hallucinogenic like the atmospheres of other planets you've visited.
>After taking a few breaths to adjust to the chill, you stand up and walk around Tapeesa’s home, idly investigating to get a feel for what sort of person she might be.
>The igloo is very sparsely furnished, basically having little more than the chair you sat on and the bed she sat on. A few free-standing racks made of purple-tinted wood hold knives, arrows, and other such tools.
>A few cleaned, preserved, unidentifiable pelts are on display, as well as some similarly unrecognizable skulls. Seems she's quite a hunter.
>Besides that, it's very difficult to get a read on her personality from the house itself. You sigh in frustration, then sit back down- just in time for your host to return.
>The Lunar Nocterran steps into the room, then freezes as her gaze falls upon your face.
>”...”
>Her expression darkens, becoming unnervingly serious as she leans in, grabbing your chin and tilting your head upwards.
>”...”
>She stares silently, tilting your head left and right, inspecting your face closely for what feels like several minutes. She eventually lets go of your chin, making a somewhat confused grunt.
>”Beck change.”
>”Huh? Oh, yeah, I just took my mask off. I didn't need it.”
>”Mask…?”
>Tapeesa looks down at your breather, which you sat on the ground beside you. She picks it up and turns it over in one massive paw, looking bemused. She tries and fails to put it on over her snout, then scoffs and throws it over her shoulder.
>”Bad mask. Not cover Tapeesa.”
>You can't help but snicker a little.
>”Well, it's made for people like me, so yeah, it won't fit you.”
>”Hmph.”
>She crosses her arms, then heads over to the bed, stooping down next to it to fish out a leather satchel that you apparently missed earlier. She digs around inside it for a moment, facing away from you.
>Her scanty outfit means you get a fairly clear view of her rear, which is BARELY covered by her loincloth. You're not sure how much of that is fluff and how much is her actual figure…
>Best to avert your eyes for now.
>With a deep, triumphant chuckle, Tapeesa stands back up, pulling something from inside the satchel and placing it on her face.
>She pivots on the spot, snarling as she shows off a rather nightmarish-looking wooden mask, styled to have massively sharp fangs and wild, bulging eyes. You jump reflexively, falling off your chair.
>The huntress chuckles again, taking her mask off with a wry grin.
>"This mask more good. Cover face and strike fear!"
>It must be either some sort of ritual mask or something for hunting or combat. Either way, the details are expertly carved; it's apparent a lot of effort went into designing it.
>Your new acquaintance puts her mask away and walks back over to you, readopting her serious expression.
>"Now, Tapeesa fix Beck."
>She steps towards you, motioning as if to remove your suit.
>You throw your hands up quickly. Sure it's not as cold in the home as it is outside, but you're not so sure that you should take your space suit off.
>"T-Tapeesa, I appreciate it. But I'm fine, really."
>She almost looks upset at your refusal to allow her to check you for wounds. She doesn't remove your suit, but she also doesn't back away.
>”Fine. Tapeesa not fix Beck. Then, Tapeesa will warm Beck. No fur make Beck cold.”
>”You don't have to do th-”
>She immediately lifts you up effortlessly, pulling you close. You practically sink into her massively voluminous fur, which is actually surprisingly warm given she's been walking around out in the cold for god knows how long. You'd call this a hug, but it's more like she's pushing you into her fur with one hand.
>She pushes you in until you press up against what feel like rock-hard abs, then stops, holding you there for a while. Your entire front is surrounded by soft, warm fluff.
>...you could get used to this, actually.
>There's a short moment of silence before the Lunar Nocterran speaks again.
>”Beck warm now?”
>”Yeah, I'm fine, thanks.”
>”Mm.”
>She unceremoniously drops you, letting you land back in the chair.
>”Good. NOW fix Beck.”
>Before you can protest, she grabs your arm, looking at a particularly deep gash. She furrows her brow, reaching into a pouch attached to one of her belts. She pulls out a small, pinkish herb, then stuffs it into her mouth.
>After a moment of chewing, she spits the now-crushed and wet herb into her paw, rubbing it into the cut. You feel a deathly cold chill that seems to shoot up your arm, making you shudder. After a few moments, the chill subsides, as does the dull ache of the gash.
>Tapeesa looks up at you inquisitively.
>”More good?”
>”Yeah, actually. Thank you.”
>She blinks a few times, then silently returns to inspecting your arms, giving a few more small cuts the same treatment as the first. After soothing every gash she can find, the alien pats you on the shoulder roughly.
>"Beck fixed now. Now Beck eat."
>”Oh, I don't want to take any of your food, but thank you.”
>Tapeesa looks mildly irritated, huffing. After a moment, she wordlessly claps a big, soft paw over your face, removing it after a few seconds.
>Must be some kinda body language her people use.
>”Hmmph. Beck NOT eat, then.”
>She walks over to her bed, roughly flopping down into a sitting position. She idly pulls out a knife and what looks like a stone, sharpening the blade loudly.
>For a time, there's a tangible silence in the air, the only sound being that of the blade across the whetstone. Eventually, Tapeesa seems satisfied with its sharpness and stows the knife away.
>”Mm. Tapeesa show Beck village, later. Now, Tapeesa will eat.”
>”That sounds good to me.”
>She grunts, stands up, then leaves the igloo once again without so much as a word. You swear you see her glance back over her shoulder at you as she goes.
>You scratch your head, then sigh and recline in the huge chair.
>You're not entirely sure how to feel about this situation, but it looks like sticking with Tapeesa may be your best bet for now. At least it seems like she likes you, for whatever reason.
>Feeling safer than you did when you first crashed here, you begin to doze off in your host’s chair, the lingering warmth of her fur and the swirling green light of her lantern lulling you into sleep.

Chapter 2

>After a surprisingly restful sleep, you awake to find Tapeesa sitting on the corner of her bed, staring at you with a frown. When your eyes open, she grunts in surprise.
>”Tapeesa think Beck dead. But, Beck not.”
>”No, no, I'm fine, I just slept a little.”
>The amazon actually grins a bit, chuckling.
>”Beck sleep all day! “Little”, Beck say. Ha!”
>You blink in confusion, then take a look outside. It definitely seems to be early morning, and it was only the early afternoon when you fell asleep.
>”Oh shit, sorry about that.”
>Tapeesa chuckles again, slapping one of your shoulders.
>”Beck good. Tapeesa watch Beck sleep. Beck make funny sounds when sleep.”
>She stands up and stretches, walking over to a weapon rack. She grabs what appears to be a harpoon, places it in a holster slung across her back, then abruptly jerks you up out of the chair.
>”Now come. Tapeesa have work to do. Beck will help.”
>”O-oh, okay. What are we doing?”
>She grins toothily, showing off dangerously sharp fangs.
>”We hunt.”
>She slings you over one shoulder and marches off to the wooded path the two of you entered the village from. After heading down it a long way, she dumps you in the snow, hunching down.
>”Now, SSHH. We sneak.”
>With surprising grace for a towering, muscular jackal-leopard, Tapeesa creeps along the snowy path, hiding amongst the brush.
>You do your best to follow in her path, but, unfortunately, you don't share her kind’s adaptations for traversing snow.
>Other than the crunching of your feet sinking down into the deep lilac powder, you stay quiet as you keep behind Tapeesa.
>The Lunar Nocterran sniffs the air carefully, seemingly pinpointing a scent and altering her course. She doesn't even slow down to make sure you're keeping up.
>Eventually, though, she stops dead, freezing in place. Her eyes widen as she stares out into the clearing. You follow her gaze…
>Lurking out in the middle of the snow is a strange weasel-like creature, apparently standing upright on its hind legs, judging by its stance. Unlike earthly weasels, this creature’s body is incredibly long, easily 4 or 5 feet, by your estimate. It bears white fur that blends in with the snow fairly well… but, unfortunately for it, contrasts the brush strikingly.
>You watch the alien creature scan its surroundings cautiously, sniffing. It stares towards the brush where you're crouched for what feels like an hour.
>You jump in shock as Tapeesa’s harpoon suddenly flies across the clearing, impaling the creature! Purple blood sprays across the snow as it falls over without so much as a cry. The huntress grins triumphantly as she stands upright and strides over to claim her prize.
>She turns to you and holds the dead moon weasel up, revealing your estimate to actually be somewhat LOW. It looks to be nearly 6 feet long!
>Tapeesa slings the dead animal around herself like a macabre necklace, the animal's blood dripping onto her, then proudly makes her way back to you. You can't help but watch the dark purple liquid stain her pale fur as she speaks.
>”Perfect hit. Tapeesa never miss!”
>”Uh… good job…”
>She pats your shoulder roughly a few times, then walks past you, heading back along the path.
>”Come, Tapeesa smell another this way.”
>You follow her a short distance, only for her to stop so abruptly you nearly run into her. She glares out at the snow, readying her harpoon.
>You see… nothing. Just some deep, seemingly aimless trails in the snow. Tapeesa sniffs, tensing up. She glances back at you, motioning for you to stay put.
>Carefully, gracefully, she steps out across the snow, not making a sound despite her size. She edges over to one of the trails, standing perfectly still with the harpoon at the ready.
>Suddenly, with an insanely fast motion, she plunges the weapon down into the groove in the powder, prompting a high-pitched squeal! She pulls the harpoon back, revealing another of those weasel-things stuck on it. She yanks it off the harpoon and slings it around her neck quickly. It thrashes briefly before falling limp.
>You hear alarmed squeaks from the other grooves, then a strange sort of… loud scrubbing sound.
>One of the snow trails begins heading your way, and when it gets close, you see what's happening: the weasel-like creature is slithering across the snowy ground at a rapid pace, looking like a huge, fuzzy worm!
>Tapeesa dashes over to you, plunging her weapon through the slithering prey, splashing its blood across your face. It's… cold. The wild animal gurgles for a few seconds before dying right in front of you.
>Before you can even react to that, the Noct woman rushes off again, pursuing and killing a third weasel. With that done, she returns to you, laughing heartily.
>”Good hunt today!”
>She notices the blood on your face and, without skipping a beat, runs a finger through it, licking it clean.
>"Drink, Beck! Feel the hunt power!"
>You tentatively swipe your finger across your own face… and taste the blood of the animals your new friend killed.
>It tastes somewhat similar to your own, but slightly… sweeter. It almost even tastes like… fruit?
>To your shock and mild horror, Tapeesa gently takes one of the dead weasels, holding its wound to her mouth, and sucks out some blood loudly. After doing this, she kneels down carefully and traces some odd shape in the snow, painting it with the purple blood of her kill. She stands once again, acting as if nothing happened even as the fluid runs down her face.
>”Tapeesa think we have enough for now. Come, Beck.”
>You follow her without another word. You're not even gonna ATTEMPT to ask about what just happened.
>Before long, you're back at the gates of the village. Tapeesa proudly struts into town with the 4 weasel-worms strung around herself, still dripping blood even now.
>Without a word, she heads for the center of the village. Judging by the small crowd of Lunar Nocts milling around small wooden stands, you assume that this is some sort of market.
>Your friend makes her way over to a particular space that's marked with alien writing. She stands directly in the center of this space, puffing her chest out confidently and speaking in a booming voice.
>"Tapeesa come with food! Not one, not two, not three, but FOUR today. Tapeesa know someone here hungry, hehe!"
>Most of the villagers don't seem to pay her any mind, but a few inquisitors come up and begin to barter for her harvests. They eye you up with confusion, but Tapeesa draws their attention away after only a few moments. After about an hour or so, three of the four giant weasels she hunted are sold off. The huntress proudly surveys her earnings, then turns to the crowd.
>"Nobody want last kill, eh? More for Tapeesa and Beck then!”
>Tapeesa grabs your hand and leads you back to her igloo.
>Once there, she hangs her harpoon up, the tip still purple with dried blood, then takes a seat on her bed, opening up the pouch she placed her earnings in. You watch in fascination as she pulls out the various items she got via the bartering.
>She pulls out a tiny pouch, opening it and peeking inside. You see a pale blue powder with the consistency of coarse-ground salt. Satisfied, she nods and cinches it shut, placing it on a small shelf alongside a few identical pouches.
>Next is a handful of pale lilac beads of some form. She glances your way with an unreadable expression, then shows them away somewhere quickly. So quickly, in fact, that you're not wholly sure WHERE she put them.
>With that done, she grins and stands up again.
>”Market was good today!”
>”Well, that's great to hear.”
>”Tapeesa want to celebrate! Come, Tapeesa teach Beck.”
>”Teach me?”
>”Yes! Watch.”
>Tapeesa leads you back outside to a large block of ice. Without a word she slaps the carcass of the giant weasel-like animal onto it.
>A look of contemplative concentration crosses her face as she pulls the knife from her hip and begins to expertly skin the harvested kill. The creature’s black bones are stripped of their meat and set aside. The Lunar Noct then strips some of the pale fat off of the dark-purple muscle of certain cuts.
>Even though you've seen her move with blinding speed, Tapeesa takes her time to carve out the raw meat with slow, precise movements. Occasionally, she whispers what sound like grateful prayers to some god as she brashly sprinkles some of the blue powder onto the fresh cuts. Some cuts, however, are left aside, free of the powder. Those must be for today's meal.
>Looking next to her, you see a few long and thin sticks poking out of the ground. The powder-dusted meats are stuck and hung up on these poles.
>Huh, she must be drying and preserving it for later.
>The bones and un-dusted meats are carried back inside to a small fire pit she has carved out in the very back of her home. It seems carefully designed to avoid letting too much heat reach the igloo walls.
>She takes a seat on the ground next to the pit, and you follow suit. Tapeesa grabs a smaller harpoon, pierces a cut of meat with it, then holds it over the fire carefully. After only a few minutes of cooking time, she pulls it back, sliding the warm meat off the sharp tip.
>Your hostess turns to you with a smile.
>”Tapeesa offer this to Beck. Beck eat first.”
>She hands the food to you, and you reluctantly accept.
>”Thank you. Uh… do you mind if I do something first?”
>”Tapeesa will wait.”
>You thank her and pull out your PDA, letting Auber scan the food. Once she gives it the okay, you put the device away.
>Even knowing it won't kill you or anything, you're not exactly stoked to eat a rare weasel steak, but… fuck it, not like you've got any other choice.
>You tentatively take a bite, your eyes widening at the flavor.
>It's a remarkably SWEET and gamey meat, with a vague sort of fruity taste to it that you can't really put a finger on. It's… actually not bad, really.
>Tapeesa breaks into a broad grin at your expression.
>”Beck like?”
>”Y-yeah, it's good.”
>She flicks her tail wildly in a triumphant manner; you grin and interpret it as her version of a fistpump.
>Before you know it, you've scarfed down your entire purple steak; must've been more hungry than you thought.
>Once you're done, the huntress eats. To your surprise, she grabs one of the bones first, biting down on it with a spine-tingling CRUNCH. Pale grey marrow oozes out, and she sucks every drop of the stuff out before tossing the bone itself into the fire. She repeats the process with a few more bones, then skewers a steak for herself.
>After cooking it, Tapeesa tears into the meat ravenously, shredding it with her fangs and wolfing it down in no time.
>Once she's finished, she quickly dusts the remaining meat with the blue powder, takes it out back, then returns.
>”Good meal. Now, Beck ready to see village?”
>”Sure, that sounds great.”
>Tapeesa nods and lifts you up off the ground effortlessly, setting you on your feet and heading for the doorway.
>Some little voice in your head reminds you that you should probably be trying to find a way off Kemosi, and you probably SHOULD.
>...but dammit, how many other opportunities are you gonna get to explore a lunar village?

Chapter 3

>You quickly follow the huntress outside, only for her to stop you at the doorway.
>”Slow down! Beck new, Tapeesa not. Beck follow. More safe.”
>”Alright, lead the way, then.”
>She nods gruffly and begins marching down the path leading into the village square. You follow cautiously, in case the other villagers dub you a threat or something.
>It seems that Tapeesa’s… PARTICULAR taste in clothing is unique for her kind, judging by the townsfolk. Most are more modestly clad than she is, wearing pale purple or white tunics. That said, every woman in town is of similar build to your friend, towering over you and clearly boasting enough muscle to handle whatever tasks need doing.
>The males, comparatively, are shorter, lither. You assume they must be faster or something, otherwise they'd probably be a lot less useful than their female counterparts.
>A few villagers whisper and murmur as you pass, giving you inquisitive stares. Tapeesa summarily ignores them, pointing out seemingly random igloos as you walk.
>”That one where Spearman live. Make best spears on Kemosi.”
>She gestures towards a home decorated with all manner of spears and other weapons leaned against the exterior. A rather aged-looking Lunar Nocterran peers out of the igloo’s entrance, squinting at you.
>Tapeesa stops walking, raising one hand-paw high before gesturing with three digits. The “Spearman” grins toothily and returns the gesture before popping back into his shop. Must be some kind of greeting.
>You're led over to the shop, then inside.
>The old man’s igloo is full of warm, orange light, cast by easily 20 lanterns set up all around the icy hovel. Countless racks of spears, knives, and other primitive weapons are on proud display.
>The elder Noct slowly walks over to you, using a spear as a cane.
>”Tapeesa.”
>”Mm.”
>”What this? Look like hairless baby!”
>”Not. Is Offmooner.”
>”Ohhhhh! ...doubt.”
>He prods you in the stomach with the blunt end of the spear, looking bemused. Your companion looks insulted on your behalf.
>”IS Offmooner! Tapeesa swear it!”
>”Heh. Tapeesa stretch truth again, eh?”
>Without another word, you are dragged outside. As if nothing happened, the tour continues, this time stopping at a very large igloo. The sounds of laughter and clattering echo from inside.
>”This where pups stay while mothers hunt. Old mothers stay with.”
>Tapeesa pats your shoulder a few times and begins gently pushing you towards the nursery.
>”Come, Beck.”
>You comply, walking over to the massive igloo. Your guide leans inside and yells out to someone gruffly.
>An older-looking woman answers her call, walking over with a surprisingly small Lunar Noct kid on her shoulder.
>”Hm?”
>”Aunt, look: Offmooner.”
>The woman, apparently Tapeesa’s aunt, gives her a world-weary look, then wordlessly shuffles back off into the nursery. The huntress says nothing, but you see her ears and tail droop slightly.
>”...come, Beck.”
>She all but drags you along to the next stop on your whirlwind tour. Though she seemed enthusiastic at first, it seems apparent by now that Tapeesa is growing increasingly angry about this walk through town.
>”Hey, why don't we just go back to your house? I think I get the idea, you don't have to-”
>She snarls, scooping you up and throwing you over her shoulder.
>”Tapeesa SAY COME, BECK.”
>With that, you clam up, allowing her to carry you almost out of the village entirely, down a long path leading to an igloo that's stained several bright colors.
>”Hmph. This where Markfur live.”
>”Markfur?”
>”Mm.”
>She carries you into the colorful igloo and drops you roughly once you're inside. A female Lunar Nocterran, completely nude, stands with her back to you, her pale fur dyed with surprisingly intricate designs of various colors.
>She glances over her shoulder, seeing Tapeesa, then pivots on her heels, grinning and giving that three-digit greeting you saw earlier. Thankfully, her thick fur obscures anything… lewd.
>”Hail, Tapeesa!”
>”Markfur.”
>”How is?”
>”Mm.”
>The tattooed amazon chuckles a little, walking closer to reveal the reason she was facing away from you: she seems to have been painting on a pale leather canvas, using some pots of dye.
>”Want mark, Tapeesa?”
>”No. Tapeesa want show Markfur this.”
>Your friend gestures to you, and the artist glances your way. She puts a dye-stained hand to her chin, tilting her head to the side.
>”........what… is?”
>”Is Offmooner.”
>The tattoo artist’s eyes widen, her jaw drops a little.
>”Offmooner?!”
>She leans in close to Tapeesa and whispers something you can't quite catch. Both of the ladies look back to you for a moment, staring before continuing to whisper to each other.  While Tapeesa looks fairly indifferent to the conversation, you swear you hear the artist... giggling?
>They eventually step apart, with the tattooed woman grinning at you.
>”Have mark, Offmooner!”
>She leans down and draws a symbol on your cheek in green dye, nodding and patting your shoulder when she's done.
>Tapeesa nods and leads you back outside without another word. You follow her down a snowy path for a short distance before she finally speaks again.
>”What Beck think?”
>”Well, it seems like you guys have a pretty nice town?”
>”Mm. Not always nice.”
>”Huh?”
>”Mm.”
>She refuses to say anything else on the matter, leading you silently for a short ways before speaking again.
>”Markfur nice. Like Offmooners.”
>”Yeah, I noticed. How come the other two people didn't like me?”
>Tapeesa bares her teeth silently, her expression darkening; she says nothing for a while, then reluctantly speaks.
>”Tapeesa not know. Tapeesa like Beck. Markfur like Beck. That enough.”
>”I guess so.”
>She stops walking abruptly, not looking at you.
>”...Beck like Tapeesa…?”
>”Huh? Well, yeah. You gave me somewhere to sleep and gave me some food, so sure, I like you.”
>She doesn't respond, just resumes walking. You idly check your PDA, which reminds you of your wrecked ship.
>"H-hey, uh, Tapeesa. Would you mind if we checked out my ship? I need to know what exactly survived the crash. Maybe I can get some emergency rations or my signal transmitter…"
>The towering Nocterran looks back at you for a moment, coming to a stop, then quietly allows you to lead the way. You step out in front, prompting Aubergine to ping your ship. After a long wait, a small, holographic map is emitted from your PDA.
>Tapeesa stares at the map, fascinated.
>”What is?”
>”Huh? Oh, it's just a map, shows where we need to go.”
>”Heh. Beck need MAP to know where go? Feh. Just use nose!”
>”Ha, I probably would, if I could smell as good as you! But this is more accurate for me, you see.”
>”Mm. Tapeesa follow map, then.”
>You nod and set off for the ping’s coordinates, your comrade in tow.
>It doesn't take too long to trudge through the high snow, but the darkening clouds overhead don't look like a good sign. The freezing wind also occasionally whips at you while you survey the wreckage.
>Unfortunately, it looks like your personal spaceship is totally busted, but you find some old Space Force MREs still stashed away, as well as your ship's Black Box. The flight recorder doesn't initially appear to be busted, thankfully.
>Tapeesa takes a look at the device, putting a hand to her chin.
>”What do, Beck?”
>”It keeps up with where I've been, and tells others that this is where I crashed. I'd like to keep it safe if possiblel.”
>She nods and grins toothily, carefully taking the recorder from you.
>”Tapeesa keep it safe. Promise.”
>”I trust you. Thanks for the help. Let me just grab these-”
>She shushes you suddenly, her ears perking up. Her fur stands on end.
>”...Beck. We go. NOW.”
>”Huh? But-”
>”NOW! WE GO NOW!”
>You begin to protest, but then, you hear it too.
>The wind outside has intensified to an intimidating degree. You can see snow falling by the truckload in the distance, and the blizzard is moving your way.
>Fast.
>Before you can take a step, Tapeesa scoops you up, carrying both you and your flight recorder. All you can do is hang on to the few MREs as she dashes as fast as possible.
>Before you know it, a blind fury of purple snow and deafening winds engulfs you both. You can't see so much as a foot in front of your face. The wind and snow chill you to the bone, even through your suit. You squint, hoping to keep the icy stuff out of your eyes.
>You look over your shoulder to see Tapeesa sniffing vigorously; trying to smell her way home, you presume. Considering you can't see a thing, you assume she can't either.
>She never stops running, though. You vaguely wonder how she can keep going even while carrying your weight through such dramatic weather.
>You begin shivering intensely, feeling the chill set in even farther. Hopefully it won't take long to get back to her house…
>You close your eyes, only opening them when you abruptly feel the wind stop.
>Tapeesa has brought you to what appears to be a huge cave, lit by tons of lanterns. You can vaguely make out other people standing around, but your vision is blurry. You try to speak, even though your jaws chatter like mad. Breathing is hard. You can't feel your… anything.
>”W-where… are w-we? I-I-I don't feel so good...”
>”Hot bath. Beck need warmth, NOW.”
>You don't argue; feels like your blood’s gonna freeze solid here in the next few minutes.
>The Lunar Noct quickly tears off your suit, which is soaking wet and covered in snow and icicles. Once you're bare, she lifts you in a bear hug, then walks into a deep pool of warm springwater, going slowly so your body doesn't go into shock.
>You close your eyes again as you feel yourself sinking into her cold, but luxurious fur.
>...
> The water slowly makes its way up your legs, then your midsection, and finally your shoulders, leaving just your head exposed.
>...
>Slowly, the feeling returns to your fingers and toes. The warmth washes over you, slowly making you feel better. Your shivering stops, your breathing stabilizes.
>...
>You sigh, opening your eyes.
>Looking up, you see Tapeesa staring down at you, concerned.
>”Beck? Talk Tapeesa. Please.”
>”I-I’m alright.”
>To your amazement, she hugs you tightly.
>”Beck… not talk for LONG time. Tapeesa thought…”
>”Long time? How long?”
>She glances over at the edge of the springs, then reaches over and prods your PDA. Auber speaks up.
>”By my estimation, we have been in these springs for 4 earth hours, Beckett. It would seem you were unconscious for nearly that long.”
>"H-holy shit… Thank you for saving me, Tapeesa."
>Before you realize it, you're pressing yourself even further into your friend's luxuriously soft fur. The hot spring waters that surround you feel heavenly when combined with her now hot, silken fur.
>You swear you've never felt so COMFORTABLE, so safe.
>Her strong arms remain wrapped around you protectively.
>”Tapeesa glad Beck okay. Was… was worried. Very worried.”
>”...can I ask you something?”
>”Mm?”
>”Why were you so worried about me? You don't know me that well…”
>She scoffs, as if what you said was absolutely ridiculous.
>”So? Beck is... friend of Tapeesa. Friend must keep friend safe, warm, healthy. Beck would do that for Tapeesa.”
>You take in what she said for a moment, then wrap your arms around her.
>”Thank you. I'm lucky to have a friend like you.”
>She snickers.
>”That right, Beck lucky! Most lucky Offmooner on Kemosi!”
>She laughs more heartily, patting you on the shoulder a few times. After a moment, she lets go of you, letting you float away a bit.
>”When Beck ready, we go home.”
>You lay your head onto her soft, pillowy chest and feel your eyes get a little heavy again.
>"Y-yeah, sure. In, like, ten minutes."
>She says nothing, merely sinking back into the water a bit herself.
>The two of you lounge in the water together for what is definitely longer than ten minutes, just enjoying each other’s company. As you begin to doze off, you think about cooking one of those MREs later to thank her for saving you.
>It's the least you could do.


Chapter 4

>You suddenly jerk awake after a fairly restful sleep. With a yawn, you blink a few times, glancing around the room.
>Looks like you're back in Tapeesa’s house. Good, good.
>...wait, didn't you fall asleep somewhere else?
>Confused, you try to sit up, but something holds you down, keeping you pinned firmly to the somewhat hard bed. Glancing down, you see Tapeesa’s arm laying across you, carefully wrapped around your middle.
>The Lunar Nocterran is fast asleep, lying on her side and facing you while snoring loudly. You're frankly surprised you didn't notice it sooner.
>You try to rise again, prompting her to growl in her sleep and pull you closer, her strength ensuring that you're unable to move any further.
>Sigh.
>A gaze out the igloo’s doorway shows that it's probably late morning by now. It'd be nice to get up, grab a bite to eat, and see if you can't look at the stuff you salvaged from the ship…
>You take a moment to puzzle out the best way to get out of this situation. Getting Auber to play an alarm COULD work, but startling Tapeesa while her arm is around you might end up with you getting clawed to hell and back. Sliding out from under her isn't an option, she's got too firm of a grip.
>Hmm.
>Suddenly, with a grunt, Tapeesa rolls over in her sleep, wrapping both arms around you, pinning you beneath her muscular body, and wedging your face firmly between her breasts. They’re… surprisingly soft, thanks to her fur.
>Hang on, were they always this… big?
>No no no, bad Beckett. You need to focus on getting out of bed, not on alien boobs.
>You struggle to move, but don't get very far; she's considerably bigger and heavier than you, and being fast asleep, is more or less dead weight.
>You swear you hear her mumble your name a few times as she continues to hold you down in a bear hug. Your hands, accidentally pressed between your body and hers awkwardly, give you a good impression that, underneath a modest layer of fat, Tapeesa is rock solid muscle.
>She may not show it all that well because of the fur, but she's definitely got a good strong core. Suddenly, you feel something... cool and wet run down the side of your face as your body continues to sink into her thick, soft coat.
>"Oh for the love of God, she's drooling…"
>Wait a minute. Your face is in the Grand Canyon, meaning hers must be a good ways up from here...
>You abruptly remember something a buddy of yours told you about his Nocterran girlfriend. Specifically, about something… SPECIAL that happens when she's hot and bothered.
>Mother of god, it all makes sense now.
>Tapeesa isn't drooling.
>That's MILK.
>That's why her chest is bigger.
>Your hostess is literally having a wet dream about you, and you're UNDER HER while she's doing it.
>...
>You're not sure how to feel about this. Flattered? Uncomfortable?
>Yeah, let's go with flattered… but you don't have a lot of time to dwell on it, as Tapeesa mumbles your name much more clearly and buries her nose in your hair, sniffing vigorously. You swear you feel the milk flow a little faster.
>Okay, you've got to do something before she embarrasses the both of you. You try to carefully shimmy out from under her without waking her up. Careful… careful...
>Tapeesa's body suddenly stiffens up as her loud sniffing suddenly stops. Welp, so much for not waking her up. Chances are she won't be too happy that you noticed her, uh… leaking. Maybe if you pretend you're asleep everything will just blow over.
>You feel Tapeesa slowly raise herself up off of you, yawning. Two thin streams of milk gently run down onto your face as she gasps and whispers to herself.
>”No, no, no, no, no…”
>Her speech abruptly stops as you hear a strange, repetitive sound overhead.
>You carefully open your eyes very slightly, just enough so you can see what she's doing, but not enough that she can tell you're awake. What you see nearly makes your eyes fly wide open.
>Tapeesa is carefully holding one of her now-massively engorged breasts up to her face and suckling it desperately. The other one still leaks cool, white liquid at a moderate pace.
>You carefully screw your eyes shut and attempt to look asleep. Thankfully, she's too distracted to pay too close attention to you.
>After what feels like hours, you finally feel her lift herself up off of her bed. You can almost feel her staring down at you for a few moments, then you feel her carefully pull a warm blanket over you. She gently pats your shoulder a few times before walking off, her footsteps heading out of the igloo.
>You wait a few minutes to be sure she's gone, then carefully climb out of bed, stretching and mentally replaying what you saw. SURELY that was just a weirdly horny dream, right?
>Whatever, it's not important right now.
>What IS important is all this snow that blew into Tapeesa’s house. God, it's gonna take hours to clean it all up. You shiver reflexively, the drifts of snow making it even colder inside the igloo than it usually is.
>Maybe you should get started shoveling this stuff outside. Seems like the nice thing to do. You scan the room, looking for any tool that might come in handy for such a task, then freeze as a strange sound hits your ears.
>It's a weird, oddly familiar shuffling sound…
>You continue looking around and nearly flinch when one of those weird weasel-worms suddenly bursts out of the snow! The alien lets off a shrill squeal, then snarls, shuffling towards you with surprisingly aggressive motions. Its fur stands on end as it draws itself up in an attempt to intimidate you.
>Your heart pounds as adrenaline rushes through you. You know this little thing isn't a real threat, but you'd still rather not be bitten by alien fauna today!
>In a split second, the weasel lunges; you grab a nearby hunting knife and, with perfect timing, thrust it directly into the creature’s chest. Purple blood splashes across your torso as its snarling instantly ceases. The weasel falls limp on the end of the blade.
>You blink a few times as you process what just happened. You're pretty sure that crazy animal was about to take a chunk out of your neck or something.
>You carefully set the animal down just in time for Tapeesa to rush into the house, her fur standing on end.
>”What happen? Tapeesa hear-”
>She trails off as her eyes fall on the blood soaking your chest. She stares, mouth hanging open, then glances down at the still-impaled creature lying on her floor.
>For a moment, there's silence. Then, a resounding, triumphant yell as your hostess runs at top speed, wrapping her arms around you and squeezing you tightly.
>”BECK HUNTER! KILL BIG ONE!”
>She laughs heartily and lets you go, grinning toothily. The blood from your shirt stains her front, but she doesn't seem to care.
>”Tapeesa PROUD, Beck! Tapeesa and Beck eat well today. We celebrate!”
>”Oh, you don't have to do that; I just panicked and stabbed it in a blur.”
>”Ha! Panic, Beck say. Beck have killer instinct! Beck just too humble. Have pride!”
>You blush a little at her compliments. She squeezes you again before gesturing to the doorway.
>”Come, Beck; we go to Markfur, get special mark. Mark of great hunter!”
>Before you know it, you're thrown over your friend's shoulder, only for her to sheepishly drop you in order to hurriedly clear some of the snow out from in front of her home.
>Once she's satisfied, she quickly picks you back up and runs across the outskirts of the village excitedly, keeping a fast pace all the way to the dye-stained home of the tattoo artist.
>She bursts into the igloo with you in tow, prompting the artist to fall out of bed with a start.
>"Markfur! Markfur! Beck earn mark of the Hunter! Come, come! Mark Beck now!”
>The dyed Noct, bleary eyed and clearly barely awake, blinks slowly, yawning.
>”Mmm…? Mark… what?”
>Tapeesa scoffs a little, grinning wryly.
>”What wrong, Markfur? Not sleep yenough again?”
>”Mmf… was busy…”
>”Busy what, marking self again?”
>The artist snaps awake for a moment, taking a defensive tone.
>”N-no! ...yes. Thought of GOOD mark this time! Unique!”
>She gestures to an incomprehensible, abstract design carefully dyed on her belly. You nod supportively as Tapeesa puts a hand to her chin.
>”What is?”
>”Is art!”
>”...no?”
>”Is! Tapeesa not know art if art bite her on snout!”
>While the artist and your friend continue to playfully bicker back and forth, you take the time to study the both of them.
>Markfur's bare coat is covered in many different designs, some more intricate than others. You can tell she spends a lot of time on dyeing herself, and the designs seem to have a decent amount of thought into them as well. Her build is leaner than your huntress friend, with less noticeable muscle mass, a less prominent bust, and narrower hips. That said, she's actually a little taller than your already-towering ally, making her almost imposingly tall.
>Comparatively, Tapeesa is more along the lines of what you'd call an Amazon: being tall, obviously muscular, and clearly suited for the daily hunting and gathering she has to do. She also actually bothers with clothes- albeit, her usual outfit is fairly skimpy. Though she's far from as colorful as her artist friend, a few fur designs run from her wrists to her shoulders.
>As the two continue to talk, you notice more and more laughter and genuine smiles shared between them. You think back to Tapeesa’s conversations with the other villagers, realizing this artist is the only one she's really seemed comfortable and happy around…
>You're snapped out of your internal monologue by Tapeesa calling your name. She and her friend look at you expectantly, still smiling from their shared banter.
>”H-huh? Sorry, I wasn't paying attention.”
>Markfur snickers and speaks.
>”Markfur say: Beck ready for mark?”
>”Oh. Uh… sure?”
>She nods eagerly and leads you over to a small, crude table made of that strange purplish wood you've seen around. She instructs you to kneel down and rest your arms on the table, and you comply as she grabs some dye.
>”Hold still, Beck. This not take long, promise.”
>You nod as the artist carefully coats her fingers in the purple dye, then draws an intricate design on your arm. She focuses intently, making certain every single detail is perfect.
>Tapeesa watches closely, smiling approvingly as her friend works. Markfur doesn't even glance at her, keeping laser focused on the task at hand.
>You can't help but smile as the soft fur and paw pads of her hands glide along your skin busily. It kinda tickles, but you remain as still as you can.
>Eventually, the job is done. Markfur laughs triumphantly and motions for you to stand. Once you're up, you take a look down at your arms.
>They now bear purple markings, each arm having a spiraling pattern that resembles one of those weasel-worms coiling around it. You glance at Tapeesa’s arms and see she has a similar design, but Markfur doesn't.
>Tapeesa grabs your arm and examines the tattoo closely, grinning.
>”Good work, Markfur! Beck look like a mighty hunter now!”
>”Hm! Hunter’s Mark look good on Offmooner! Come back if Beck want more marks later!”
>”Alright, I might do that sometime; thanks, Markfur.”
>You wave farewell to the artist as you and Tapeesa exit her igloo. Once you're outside, your friend beams at you.
>”Come, Beck, we eat your kill to celebrate!”
>She scoops you up onto her shoulder once again and heads back to her igloo, gently setting you down in the snow. She puts a hand to her chin and huffs at the sight of the massive snowdrifts inside her house, turning to you.
>"Beck, please move snow. Tapeesa will set up fire."
>Your Nocterran friend hands you a crude shovel, nodding as you awkwardly lift the thing; the handle alone is about as long as you are tall… Once satisfied that you can handle it, she begins to stack wood underneath a hole carved out of the roof.
>It takes some getting used to, but before long, you find a good position to use the long shovel, steadily hauling the snow out pile by pile.
>By the time you finally shovel out all the snow from the entrance of Tapeesa's home, you’ve worked up a bit of a sweat and she has a small fire going. Dark purple smoke lazily trails up and out of the hole in the roof.
>The huntress grins at you and pats your shoulder heartily.
>"Good work! Now, Tapeesa show Beck how to skin kill."
>You follow the Amazon outside as she brandishes a small knife from the belt on her hip. Despite the blade’s small size, it appears to be incredibly sharp, glinting in the sunlight dangerously.
>As you watch carefully, your amazonian friend gently drags the blade along the neck of the weasel… thing you killed. The knife glides through the skin as if it were butter, making a perfectly smooth, even cut. Purple blood begins to leak from the incision slowly as Tapeesa pulls the knife away.
>"Make careful cut, not damage hide. Takes practice.”
>She wipes the blade off on a little scrap of leather, licking a few drops of blood off her fingers. Setting the knife down, Tapeesa ties the weasel carcass upside-down to a pole that is stuck in the ground. The creature’s indigo blood flows out of the cut along its neck and into a large bowl.
>”Save blood, use it later.”
>You watch, mesmerized, as the purple liquid runs down into the wooden bowl, slowly filling it up. After several minutes, Tapeesa carefully lifts the now-full bowl and sets it aside, catching the remaining few drops of blood that flow from the weasel in the palm of one hand, sipping it with a purple-stained smile.
>"As thanks for moving snow, Tapeesa make Beck traditional scarf. Help Beck keep warm."
>Using her clawed fingers, Tapeesa grabs onto part of the animal’s pelt and pulls hard, muscles rippling from the effort.
>Despite how hard Tapeesa tugs on the animal skin, she never once lets go, nor does she accidentally poke any holes with her claws.
>Finally, the pelt suddenly comes loose from the creature, prompting Tapeesa to grin as she continues pulling.
>It takes a little while, but afterwards she has a perfectly skinned weasel alien.
>Your Nocterran friend places the pelt onto a primitive tanning rack and immediately goes back to the dead animal. She cuts many small pieces off of the less lean portions of the body, placing them in a second bowl next to the blood-filled one. Satisfied with that, she moves to cut more off the creature, speaking to you while maintaining laser focus on her work.
>"Tougher meat good when dry. Tapeesa make best jerky and roast Beck ever had!"
>Finally stripping the last of the meat, she lays out the tougher cuts on some trays, allowing them to dry out.
>"Now, Tapeesa make PUDDING! Tapeesa love pudding! Do Beck?"
>Confused, you scratch the back of your head. What the fuck is she going to make pudding with?
>"I, uh, I don't understand, Tapeesa. Back home, pudding was a dessert… not something made with freshly-killed game.”
>"Beck silly. Blood pudding delicious!"
>Before you can ask any questions (or say so much as “what”), your Lunar friend is hauling off the large bowl of blood, smiling to herself and licking her chops.
>After placing the bowl over the igloo's fire, Tapeesa heads over to a small storage box, pulling out a leather pitch, from which she takes out several large paw-fulls of some sort of pale lavender grain. She then steps outside to collect some of the fat she skimmed off your kill.
>After the blood is boiled for a while, Tapeesa takes the bowl off the flame and stirs in the animal fat and the rice-like grains.
>All of the ingredients are thoroughly mixed together as the blood cools. Pretty soon, the blood turns gelatinous with fat, with the rice-like stuff soaking up the excess.
>Tapeesa turns to you with a big smile on her face.
>”Blood pudding!"
>She dips a crude wooden spoon in, then pops it in her mouth.
>"Yum! Always love pudding. Rich, but good! Make Beck strong like Tapeesa, haha!"
>She takes another big spoonful out of the bowl and extends it to you.
>"Try…?"
>You tentatively lean forward and let her put the spoon in your mouth. The taste is something you've never really experienced before. It is incredibly rich, just like she said, but it's also very gamey tasting. It reminds you of the times your father got back from the farmer's market with fresh meat.
>It's actually not bad at all.
>"Th-that's really good, Tapeesa…"
>Her eyes go wide and she almost looks bashful. Her usually brash, confident tone wavers a bit.
>R-really…?"
>You dip your finger in the mixture and take another small taste.
>"I really mean it!"
>Tapeesa quickly spins around and finishes preparing your meal, then gestures over to a chair and crude table.
>"B-Beck sit here… Let Tapeesa serve mighty hunter."
>Your eyes widen and you feel yourself salivating as the rich aroma of the pudding wafts over to where you're seated.  Tapeesa brings over two large bowl-fulls of the stuff and sets them down carefully.
>She takes a seat opposite of the tiny table from you, staring intently. She must be waiting on you to start eating.
>You take a spoonful out and blow to cool it before stuffing the entire thing in your mouth.
>Yup, this stuff is good as FUCK.
>You ravenously scarf down as much as you can. Before you know it, your bowl is empty and you feel completely stuffed.
>As you look up from your feast, you see Tapeesa looking right at you as she slowly eats her own portion, a bemused smile on her face.
>Your cheeks redden and you feel embarrassment wash over you.
>Fuck, you probably looked like a real pig, scarfing all that down before she's even made a dent in her bowl.
>You feel her eyes never leave your face as she continues to slowly, silently eat. After a while she sets her spoon down.
>"So… Beck like Tapeesa cooking…?"
>You swallow heavily.
>"Y-yea. It was really good. Wish I had a wife that could cook as good as this."
>The moment you blurt that out, you see your friend’s ears jolt upright. She blinks a few times, then looks away for the first time in several minutes.
>”...thank, Beck.”
>She sits still for a while, not saying anything, then turns back to you with an unreadable expression.
>”Beck, really mean that…?”
>You nod enthusiastically, grinning widely.
>"Heck yeah I mean it! I'm, uh, surprised that you didn't have a man of the house before I got here. If you keep this up I might just have to stay on Kemosi for a while…!”
>Tapeesa’s eyes go wide as her long, fluffy fur stands on end for a moment. Her tail twitches a bit.
>”...B-Beck… stay…?”
>”Well, if you'll have me a little longer, sure I'll stay. You've been nothing but good to me, after all. Besides, not like I can just go flying back home any time soon.”
>Your face nearly bursts into flames as she suddenly lunges across the table, grabbing one of your hands with her big, soft handpaws.
>"Please stay… Let Tapeesa cook for Beck: mighty hunter!”
>She smiles in an almost pleading manner, her eyes big and shiny. She squeezes your hand tightly, her claws gently pricking your skin. It doesn't hurt, luckily.
>”You don't have to cook for me EVERY DAY or anything; I'm not that high-maintenance, heheh.”
>She tilts her head to the side slightly, but nods, letting your hand go.
>”So, Beck sure?”
>You hesitate for a moment to think.
>On one hand, you probably should at least try to get off Kemosi at some point. You do kinda have a house and shit back on Earth. Dead-end job. Some coworkers who call themselves friends.
>You'd count family as a reason to stay, but mom and pop have been gone for years now, and you never had any siblings.
>On the other hand…
>Kemosi’s snowy scenery sure is a lot easier on the eyes than the big city you live in. Plus, Tapeesa seems happy to let you move in with her. And, since things are… simpler here, your only job would be hunting.
>And on top of all that, you’ve barely even known Tapeesa for a few days, and she's already saved your life AND treated you a hell of a lot nicer than most people you've met in your lifetime.
>...
>”...yeah. Yeah, I'm sure I'm staying.”
>Tapeesa leaps across the table, tackling you to the ground and wrapping her strong arms around you.
>”Eeeee! Tapeesa sooooo glad! Will set up sleep place for Beck tonight.”
>She hugs you tightly, your body sinking deep into her voluminous, pillowy fur.
>Heh, you could get used to this.